Bolthole Index

Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Hampshire County, Massachusetts

60Index Score / 100
#3 of 14 in Massachusetts

Hampshire County, Massachusetts has no county building department: building permits and zoning are handled by each city or town12. Northampton's Building Department, used here as a local example, enforces state construction codes and the city's zoning bylaws34. Septic systems follow statewide Title 5 and are permitted locally by municipal boards of health5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required and issued town by town; Northampton uses online permitting16
Zoning
Yes, set and enforced by each city or town, not the county2
Septic permit
Title 5 applies statewide; local boards of health issue permits, and Northampton charges $150 for new or repair work57
Owner-builder exemption
Yes, statewide: an owner-occupant of a one- or two-family home may pull the permit and act as their own construction supervisor8
Minimum dwelling size
No statewide zoning rule sets a minimum interior area for a single-family home9
Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
Allowed by right statewide in single-family zoning districts, up to the lesser of half the main home's floor area or 900 sq ft10
Septic soils
Only about 1% of the county's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field11
Property tax
About 1.5% effective rate; median bill around $5,326/year1213

Who to call

Building permits

Northampton Building Department (example; Hampshire County has no countywide building department)

Building permits and zoning bylaw enforcement for Northampton (including the villages of Florence and Leeds), and building, sheet metal and electrical permits for the Town of Williamsburg (including the village of Haydenville) under an inter-municipal agreement

413-587-1240

[email protected]

Building Department, Municipal Building, 212 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060

Health department

Northampton Board of Health (example; septic in Massachusetts is enforced town by town under the statewide Title 5 code)

Septic system (Title 5) and well permits for Northampton

413-587-4900

City Hall, 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Hampshire County, Massachusetts?

Hampshire County has no county building department to call; each city or town issues building permits through its municipal inspector under the state building code1. Northampton is a useful local example, not a countywide rule: its Building Department enforces the state building, plumbing and gas, electrical, and architectural access codes3. For land elsewhere in Hampshire County, contact the specific municipality's building or inspection office before designing or ordering materials1. Massachusetts zoning law does not let a local bylaw regulate the interior area of a single-family home, but state building-code requirements still apply9.

Who issues building permits in Hampshire County, and how do you reach them?

Confirm which city or town serves the parcel because Hampshire County has no county building office1. Northampton's Building Department is at the Municipal Building, 212 Main St., Northampton, MA 01060; call 413-587-1240 or email [email protected]14. Its jurisdiction includes Northampton, Florence and Leeds, plus building, sheet-metal and electrical permits for Williamsburg and Haydenville14. Northampton moved permitting online in 2026, offers an office computer for applicants who need help, and accepts inspection scheduling through the portal or by telephone6. Applications outside the online portal carry a $50 processing fee6.

Does Hampshire County have zoning?

Zoning in Hampshire County is municipal, not countywide; in Northampton, the Building Commissioner enforces the city's zoning bylaws, while the Zoning Board of Appeals handles appeals, special permits and variances24. Massachusetts law allows one accessory dwelling unit by right in a single-family district, up to the lesser of half the principal home's floor area or 900 square feet, although reasonable local dimensional and site-plan rules may still apply10. State law also protects qualifying commercial agricultural uses, subject to acreage, production and sales conditions15. Ask the parcel's municipality about its zoning district, setbacks, lot coverage, building height and allowed uses because those details vary locally and could not be confirmed countywide.

How do septic permits work in Hampshire County?

Septic systems throughout Hampshire County follow the statewide Title 5 sanitary code, but each municipality's Board of Health handles local permitting5. In Northampton, the Board of Health issues septic permits and requires both Conservation Commission review and a Department of Public Works trench permit before issuing one; the trench permit is also required before the city schedules a witnessed percolation test16. Northampton's disposal-works construction permit costs $150 for new or repair work, includes one revision and re-review, and charges $50 for each additional re-review7. Only about 1% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, making an early site evaluation especially valuable11. Where a town has installed both a sewer and drain in a public way, an abutting parcel must connect as directed by the sewer authority17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Hampshire County?

We could not confirm a countywide rule for living in an RV or tiny home, so ask the parcel's municipal building and health departments before relying on either use. Zoning is administered town by town in Hampshire County2. Massachusetts's special tiny-house provision applies only when a designated seasonal community adopts a bylaw allowing year-round tiny houses; it does not itself establish a Hampshire County right to tiny-home occupancy18. A separate statewide rule allows one accessory dwelling unit by right in a single-family zoning district, up to the lesser of half the principal home's floor area or 900 square feet, subject to reasonable local requirements10. An ADU is therefore a distinct legal path, not proof that a municipality permits an RV or a freestanding tiny home as a primary residence.

Building a home in Hampshire County: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Identify the parcel's city or town and contact its building office; Hampshire County has no county building department1.
  2. Confirm the zoning district, use, setbacks and lot rules with that municipality because zoning is local2.
  3. Apply through the municipal permit system; Northampton uses online permitting and charges $50 to process an application submitted outside the portal6.
  4. Ask the municipal inspector whether the homeowner exemption fits your project before acting as your own construction supervisor8.
  5. Arrange the Title 5 site work and apply to the local Board of Health; Northampton requires Conservation Commission review and a trench permit before septic approval516.
  6. Complete required inspections. In Northampton, a new or altered structure or lot cannot be used or occupied until the Building Commissioner issues a certificate of use and occupancy19.
  7. Budget for an effective property-tax rate near 1.5% and a median annual bill around $5,3261213.

What should you check before you buy land in Hampshire County, Massachusetts?

Start with septic feasibility: only about 1% of Hampshire County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field11. Confirm the municipal zoning district, legal access, flood or wetland constraints, and water source before making an offer; countywide rules for setbacks, driveway access, floodplain development and private wells could not be confirmed, so direct those questions to the parcel's city or town. About 87.2% of the county is wooded, while about 72.1% of its land has a slope of 15% or less, making parcel-level clearing and grading estimates important2021. Annual precipitation averages about 48.8 inches22. Property taxes average an effective rate near 1.5%, with a median annual bill around $5,326, and typical home insurance is about $1,438 per year121323.

Watch-outs

  • Hampshire County has no county building, zoning or septic office; Northampton details in this guide are local examples, and the parcel's own municipality controls125.
  • Massachusetts's tiny-house year-round occupancy law only applies in towns formally designated as "seasonal communities," a status currently limited to parts of Dukes, Nantucket, Barnstable and Berkshire counties; it does not extend to Hampshire County towns18.
  • Only about 1% of Hampshire County's soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional septic drain field, among the lowest shares seen anywhere; budget for a site evaluation and likely an engineered or alternative system11.
  • In Northampton, a septic permit requires Conservation Commission review and a Department of Public Works trench permit; ask the parcel's Board of Health about its own prerequisites16.

Sources

  1. City of Northampton Building Department (2026 county census)
  2. City of Northampton Code (Building/Zoning Regulations) (2026 county census)
  3. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. Zoning Boards of Appeals, quoted and re-checked
  5. Northampton Septic and Well Permits & Fees (2026 county census)
  6. Building Department, quoted and re-checked
  7. Septic and Well Permits & Fees, quoted and re-checked
  8. 780 CMR 110.R5 Registration and Licensing (homeowner exemption) (2026 county census)
  9. General Law - Chapter 40A, Section 3 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  12. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  13. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  14. Northampton Building Department (example; Hampshire County has no countywide building department) (northamptonma.gov)
  15. General Law - Chapter 40A, Section 3 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Septic and Well Permits & Fees, quoted and re-checked
  17. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 83, Section 5 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 23B, Section 32 (Massachusetts statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Ordinance Review Committee packet, quoted and re-checked
  20. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Hampshire County in Massachusetts

60
County map
Hampshire County highlighted among the Massachusetts counties · colored by Index score

How Hampshire County scores

Seclusion34100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency69100% ev.
Admin Boringness43100% ev.
Durability80100% ev.
Property Autonomy44100% ev.
Carry Cost51100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$461kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$10,568Land / acre
48.8"Annual rain
6.5% of yrsSevere drought
0.8 / yr (+0.7)Mid-century 100°F days
10.9 daysMid-century dry spell
2.16" (+9.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.38×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,438Home insurance / yr
0.9% / yrInsurance growth
0.85%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
51,804People within 30 min
5,502,600People within 2 hr
231,179Radius comparison (15 mi)
308.2People / sq mi
1.3%Federal land
72.1%Land at 15% slope or less
1%Septic soil without severe limits
3,373 acWorkable land screen
87.2%Wooded land
77.3 tonsBiomass / forest ac
47.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Hampshire County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Hampshire County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Hampshire County government was abolished; building permits are issued by municipal building inspectors under State Building Code 780 CMR, e.g. the Northampton Building Department.

    City of Northampton Building Department ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Zoning is municipal; the Northampton building commissioner enforces the city's zoning ordinance, with special permits from the ZBA and planning board.

    City of Northampton Code (Building/Zoning Regulations) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • Who permits septicNorthampton Board of Health under Massachusetts Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000), MassDEP

    On-site septic is governed by statewide Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000) administered by MassDEP and enforced locally by the town/city Board of Health.

    Northampton Septic and Well Permits & Fees ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    Under 780 CMR 110.R5 a homeowner may pull a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling they own/reside in and act as their own construction supervisor, exempt from licensing.

    780 CMR 110.R5 Registration and Licensing (homeowner exemption) ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Massachusetts rules that apply here

  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Massachusetts zoning districts, including the statutory requirement applicable to MBTA communities and locally adopted zoning districts.

    • Zoning ordinances and bylaws are adopted by cities and towns; the statewide statute does not provide one uniform zoning map or complete statewide district inventory.
    • For an MBTA community, at least one reasonable-size district must permit multifamily housing as of right, without age restrictions and suitable for families with children.
    • The required MBTA-community district must have a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre, subject to limitations under chapter 131 section 40 and Title 5 of the state environmental code, and must be within 0.5 miles of a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station, if applicable.
    • Local zoning amendments generally require public hearings and a two-thirds vote, subject to statutory exceptions.

    minimum gross density: >= 15 units per acre (Subject to further limitations imposed by section 40 of chapter 131 and Title 5 of the state environmental code.) · maximum distance from applicable transit: <= 0.5 miles (Applies to the MBTA-community district when a qualifying commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station is applicable.)

    “An MBTA community shall have a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right; provided, however, that such multi-family housing shall be without age restrictions and shall be suitable for families with children.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeNone

    Local zoning ordinances and bylaws statewide, as to the interior area of a single-family residential building.

    • This finding concerns zoning regulation; state building-code requirements are not eliminated.
    • The cited statute separately permits reasonable bulk and height, yard-size, lot-area, setback, open-space, parking, and building-coverage regulations for land or structures used for specified religious or educational purposes.
    “No zoning ordinance or by-law shall regulate or restrict the interior area of a single family residential building”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny-house dwelling occupancy in municipalities designated as Massachusetts seasonal communities.

    • A tiny house must be a detached structure containing a dwelling unit of 400 square feet or less, excluding lofts.
    • The seasonal community must adopt bylaws or zoning ordinances permitting construction of tiny houses.
    • Tiny houses must be designated for year-round housing and meet all state and local building-code requirements.
    • Any qualifying undersized-lot housing may not be used as a seasonal home or short-term rental of less than 6 months and must be used as year-round housing.
    • A movable tiny house must be registered with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, as applicable.
    • The municipality must be in a designated seasonal community; the statute requires designation for municipalities in Dukes and Nantucket counties and specified municipalities in Barnstable and Berkshire counties, and permits additional designations.

    maximum floor area: <= 400 square feet excluding lofts · minimum year-round occupancy period: >= 10 months per year (The statute defines year-round housing as principal-residence occupancy for not less than 10 months a year.)

    “A seasonal community shall: [...] adopt by-laws to permit the construction of tiny houses provided that such tiny houses are designated for use as year-round housing units”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Placement and occupancy of a manufactured home on the site of a Massachusetts residence destroyed by fire or another natural holocaust while the residence is being rebuilt.

    • The person must be the owner and occupier of the destroyed residence.
    • The manufactured home must be placed on the site of that residence.
    • Occupancy may not exceed 12 months while the residence is being rebuilt.
    • The manufactured home remains subject to the Massachusetts state sanitary code.

    maximum occupancy period: <= 12 months (While the residence is being rebuilt.)

    “period not to exceed twelve months while the residence is being rebuilt.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    A single accessory dwelling unit, or its rental, in a single-family residential zoning district in Massachusetts cities and towns.

    • The use may be subject to reasonable regulations, including applicable 310 CMR 15.000 requirements, site-plan review, dimensional setbacks, and bulk and height regulations.
    • Municipal restrictions or prohibitions on short-term rental may apply.
    • Owner occupancy of either the accessory dwelling unit or principal dwelling is not required.
    • No more than one additional parking space may be required.
    • No additional parking space may be required for an accessory dwelling unit located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station.
    • More than one accessory dwelling unit, or rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district requires a special permit.
    • The unit must otherwise satisfy the statutory definition, including sleeping, cooking, and sanitary facilities, a separate entrance, and a maximum gross floor area of the lesser of one-half the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 900 square feet.

    maximum gross floor area: the lesser of 50% of the principal dwelling's gross floor area or 900 square feet · additional parking spaces: <= 1 space per accessory dwelling unit (No additional space may be required within 0.5 miles of a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal, or bus station.)

    “No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit [...] a single accessory dwelling unit”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Alternative or off-grid sewage handling on parcels abutting a public sewer in a Massachusetts town.

    • When a town has provided both a drain and a sewer in a public way, sewage must be connected to the sewer as directed by the responsible sewer authority.
    • This claim does not establish a statewide rule for parcels without access to a public sewer.
    “When a town has provided both a drain for waters and a sewer for sewage in a public way, the owner of every parcel of land abutting on such way or connected with such drain or sewer shall arrange his plumbing so that the waters shall be kept separate from the sewage; and shall make such connections with the drain and sewer respectively that the waters shall pass into the drain and the sewage into the sewer in accordance with the directions of the board or officer having charge of the repair and maintenance of sewers in such town.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Commercial agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, horticulture, floriculture, and viticulture land uses and related structures under Massachusetts local zoning law.

    • The statutory protection applies when, during June, July, August, and September or during the harvest season of the primary crop, 25 percent of products for sale based on gross sales dollars or volume were produced by the owner or lessee on the parcel; alternatively, 25 percent were produced on the parcel and at least an additional 50 percent were produced in Massachusetts on other qualifying land.
    • Activities may be limited to parcels of 5 acres or more, or to parcels of 2 acres or more in areas not zoned for the listed agricultural uses when annual sales generated from the use are at least $1,000 per acre based on gross sales dollars.
    • Land divided by a public or private way or waterway is construed as one parcel for this section.
    • The exemption does not exempt land or structures from floodplain or wetlands regulations established under the General Laws.
    • Agriculture has the meaning given in Chapter 128, Section 1A; horticulture includes growing and keeping nursery stock and its sale.
    • Agriculture, aquaculture, floriculture, and horticulture do not include marijuana-related growing, cultivation, distribution, or dispensation as described in the cited statutes, although a municipality may allow commercial marijuana growing and cultivation by zoning on land used for commercial agriculture, aquaculture, floriculture, or horticulture.

    on-parcel production threshold: >= 25 percent (During June, July, August, September, or the primary crop’s harvest season; measured by gross sales dollars or volume.) · additional Massachusetts production threshold: >= 50 percent (Alternative test requiring at least 25 percent on-parcel production and additional production elsewhere in Massachusetts.) · minimum parcel size: >= 5 acres (Activities may be limited to parcels of 5 acres or more.) · alternative minimum parcel size: >= 2 acres (In areas not zoned for the listed agricultural uses, only if annual sales are at least $1,000 per acre based on gross sales dollars.) · annual sales threshold: >= 1000 USD per acre (Applies to the 2-acre alternative in areas not zoned for the listed agricultural uses.)

    “nor shall any such ordinance or by-law prohibit, unreasonably regulate, or require a special permit for the use of land”

Inside cities and towns in Hampshire County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Building-code enforcement in Northampton and the Northampton Building Department service area.

    • The official page states that the department enforces the state building code, plumbing and gas code, electrical code, and architectural access code.
    • The page also states that the office has jurisdiction over Northampton, including Florence and Leeds, and over Williamsburg for specified permits.
    “The Building Department is charged with enforcing the state building code, plumbing and gas code, electrical code, and the architectural access code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Structures or lots erected or altered in Northampton under the cited ordinance provision.

    • Applications must be filed coincident with permit applications.
    • The certificate must be issued or refused in writing for cause within 10 days after written notice that erection or alteration is complete.
    • Accessory buildings completed at the same time as a dwelling do not require a separate certificate.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during completion or partial occupancy.
    • Separate certificates are required for areas excluded from a partial certificate before those areas are used or occupied.

    written decision deadline: 10 days (after the Building Commissioner is notified in writing that erection or alteration is complete) · temporary certificate duration: <= 6 months (during completion of alterations or partial occupancy)

    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy any structure or lot thereafter erected or altered unless the Building Commissioner has issued a certificate of use and occupancy”
  • Local zoningPresent

    City of Northampton zoning administration.

    • The Northampton Zoning Board of Appeals hears zoning appeals, considers special permits, and authorizes zoning variances.
    • The Northampton Building Commissioner is the enforcement officer for the city's zoning bylaws.
    “The building commissioner is the enforcement officer for the city's zoning bylaws.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Northampton septic permitting.

    • The Northampton Board of Health issues septic system permits.
    • A Conservation Commission review signature is required before issuance under the page's stated condition.
    • A Trench Permit from the Department of Public Works is required before septic permitting or scheduling a percolation-test witness.
    “the Northampton Board of Health will not issue septic system permits until we are provided with evidence, by signature of the Conservation Commission staff member, that the Conservation Commission has reviewed the plan.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New and repair disposal-works construction in Northampton.

    • The page lists a Disposal Works Construction Permit for new and repair work.
    • A Conservation Commission review signature is required before issuance.
    • A Trench Permit from the Department of Public Works is required before septic permitting or scheduling a percolation-test witness.

    new or repair permit fee: 150 USD (one revision and re-review free; additional re-reviews are $50 per review)

    “Disposal Works Construction Permit (PDF) | New and Repair:$150 (One revision and re-review free) Additional re-reviews: $50 per review”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Northampton septic and well permit fees.

    • Disposal Works Construction Permit fees are listed for new and repair work.
    • Installer and hauler permits expire December 31.
    • Private well and ground-source heat-pump well fees are listed separately.

    disposal works construction permit: 150 USD (one revision and re-review free; additional re-reviews $50 per review) · disposal works installer permit: 75 USD (expires December 31) · private well irrigation or drinking application: 50 USD · ground-source heat-pump well application: 50 USD (first hole; $25 each additional hole)

    “Disposal Works Installers and Septic Haulers permits expire December 31.”
  • Permit processPublished

    Northampton Building Department permitting process.

    • Online permitting began June 29, 2026.
    • A computer is available at the office for applicants needing help with the online process.
    • Applications not submitted through the online portal incur a $50 processing fee.
    • Inspections may be scheduled through the OpenGov portal or by telephone.
    • The office has jurisdiction over Northampton, including Florence and Leeds, and over Williamsburg for specified permits.

    non-online application processing fee: 50 USD

    “The Building Department transitioned to online permitting on June 29, 2026.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Inspections — Building inspections in Hampshire County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size requirements in Hampshire County.
  • Setbacks — Setback requirements in Hampshire County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Hampshire County.
  • Building height — Building-height requirements in Hampshire County.
9 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Hampshire County, Massachusetts

Is Hampshire County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Hampshire County scores 60/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: mixed durability signals and strong self-sufficiency basics: 48.8″/yr rainfall plus 87.2% wooded land. Watch-outs: about 51,804 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Hampshire County, Massachusetts?

Hampshire County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Northampton Board of Health under Massachusetts Title 5 (310 CMR 15.000), MassDEP. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Hampshire County, Massachusetts?

Land in Hampshire County runs about $10,568 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Hampshire County?

Hampshire County gets about 48.8" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 6.5% of years.

How remote is Hampshire County?

A representative private-land location has about 51,804 people within a 30-minute drive and 5,502,600 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Hampshire County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Hampshire compares in Massachusetts

Compare side-by-side →See all 14 Massachusetts counties ranked →